Currycomb.



H. ROTHFORK.

GURRYOOMB.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1911.

Patented Mar; 11, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cO..wAsH|NflToN. D. :4

UNITED p TATE PATENT @FFICE.

HARRY ROTHFORK, OF ELKTON, SOUTH DAKOTA.

CURRYCOMB.

' have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Currycombs, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an attachment for a curry comb by means of which the teeth of the comb can be easily cleaned of dirt and hair which frequently cling thereto.

A further object is to provide a curry comb having a secondary or supplemental comb provided with smooth edges and operating as an adjunct to the teeth of the curry comb proper to the end that with a slight adjustment the secondary comb will be brought into working position, while the teeth of the comb pro-per will be temporarily rendered inoperative.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of a curry comb embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a view of the secondary comb detached from the comb proper, Fig. 3 is a side view showing the secondary comb retracted to an inoperative position, Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on a line 0c-@ of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the secondary comb projected to an operative position.

In the drawing, 2 represents the back of the curry comb, having a handle 3 and shank 4, provided with projecting ends 5 for convenience in cleaning the comb. The back 2 is provided with a series of plates 6, having serrated edges 7, these plates forming the comb proper and being of common construction in curry combs as generally made. The plates are preferably bent into U-shaped form in cross section, so that each plate presents two serrated edges to the work, and between the flanges of the plates spaces 8 are provided, which are adapted to receive the secondary comb. This secondary comb consists of rails 9 and plates 10 bent into a trough-like form, with smooth projecting edges 11. There are preferably four of these plates corresponding in number to those on the curry comb proper, and the troughs are adapted to slip into the spaces between the flanges of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 3, 1911.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

Serial No. 631,315.

the curry comb plates below the serrated edges thereof, so that normally the secondary comb will be inoperative, its smooth edges lying between the flanges of the primary comb near the serrated edges thereof, as shown plainly in Fig. 3.

In the operation of the curry comb a con siderable quantity of dirt and hair will collect on the teeth, and it is evident that by moving the secondary comb outwardly it will act as a cleaning device to remove the hair and dirt from the teeth of the curry comb proper. For the purpose of actuating this secondary comb, I provide bars 12, arranged diagonally on the back of the comb and having downwardly turned ends 13, which are secured to the frame of the secondary comb.

A. spring 14. is provided beneath the bars 12 and having its ends resting on the back of the comb, and a button 15 is mounted in the intersection of the bars with one another over the middle portion of the spring, so that when pressure is applied thereto the bars will be forced downwardly and the secondary comb will be forced out from between the flanges of the primary comb and will operate to clean the teeth of whatever may have collected thereon. I prefer also to provide a key-hole slot 14: in the back of the comb to receive a guide pin 15 having a lug l5" thereon. Pressure of the finger on the button 15 will project the cleaning device beyond the teeth of the comb and upon pushing the pin 15 downwardly and then rotating it slightly, the lug 15 will engage the back of the comb and lock the cleaning device in its projected position.

When the plates of the secondary comb are projected beyond the plates of the primary comb, they will present smooth edges to the work, and the operation of currying the animal may be continued with the smooth edges, and at any time the operator may release the pressure of the button 15 and allow the secondary comb to be returned to its normal, inoperative posit-ion. The curry comb proper can then be used as though the secondary comb was not attached thereto.

For convenience of mounting I prefer to provide bars 16 at the ends of the middle trough of the secondary comb, as shown in Fig. 2, said bars being pivoted at 17 and allowing the middle trough to oscillate on these pivots. This forms a more flexible construction and allows the secondary comb, in some instances, to be fitted with greater ease to the primary comb. I have also found that the independent pivots of the bars 16 allow the comb to adapt itself more readily to the surface over which it is moving and more thoroughly clean the hair of the animal.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination, with a curry comb, of a secondary comb adapted to slide between rows of teeth on the primary comb, bars attached to said secondary comb, a spring interposed between said bars and the back of the curry comb proper normally holding said secondary comb in its retracted position, a pin mounted in said bars and having a hook thereon slidable in a key-hole slot in said curry comb back, said pin being capable of rotation and adapted to lock said secondary comb in its projected position.

2. A curry comb comprising a back having a suitable handle, flanged plates, U shaped, substantially, in cross section, secured to said back plate, the flanges of said plates having serrated edges, a secondary comb comprising plates conforming, substantially to said first named plates and fitting between the flanges thereof and normally above the serrated edges of said first named plates, rails whereto the ends of said secondary comb plates are connected, bars extending transversely of said back plate to allow said intermediate, smooth, and serrated plates to adapt themselves to the surface to be cleaned and having downwardly turned ends attached to said rails, the down wardly turned ends of said bars sliding vertically on the edges of said back plate, a guide pin for said bars slidable in an opening in said back plate, and a spring for nor mally holding said bars in their raised position.

3. A curry comb comprising a back plate having a suitable handle, flanged plates, U- shaped, substantially, in cross section, mounted on said back plate and provided with serrated edges, a series of flanged plates adapted to nest with said first named plates and having smooth edges, side rails whereto the outer smooth edge plates are connected, bars pivotally mounted on the middle portion of said side rails and connected at. their ends with the intermediate or middle smooth-edged plates, said smooth edged plates being normally above the serrations of said U-shaped plates and means mounted on the back of the comb and connected with said side rails for forcing them and said smooth-edged plates downwardly, for the purpose specifiec.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of May 1911.

HARRY ROTHFORK.

lVi tnesses GENEVIEVE E. SORENSEN, EDWARD A. PAUL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

